Because of the Russians, 50 million people were at risk of starvation

As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the blockade of the Black Sea ports, more than 50 million people were at risk of starvation. USM tells how the Grains Agreement was able to postpone the world food crisis.

Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was the fifth largest grain exporter in the world. Thus, according to the results of 2021, the export of grain from Ukraine amounted to 51.2 million tons – worth $12.5 billion, the Ministry of Agricultural Policy reported.

Together with the full-scale attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and the blockade of Ukrainian ports, the terrorist country endangered the survival of the peoples of Africa and the Middle East. According to the United Nations, grain shortages and rising prices of products have put 50 million people at risk of starvation, the Center for Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

However, the Russians’ dreams of a “small victorious war” did not come true. The Ukrainian people began to actively resist the occupiers. Thus, after regaining control over the Snake Island, Ukraine was able to open traffic through the channel of the Bystre estuary from the Danube to the Black Sea. Later, thanks to the military successes of the Armed Forces and the deterioration of the situation of the occupiers, Russia had to agree to sign the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The grain agreement was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. The participants of the initiative were four parties – the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. The signing of the agreement became one of Ukraine’s greatest diplomatic victories. Thus, the Black Sea Initiative not only contributed to the recovery of Ukrainian grain exports, but also saved the world from a food crisis.

Since the beginning of the Grain Agreement, 1,004 ships have left the ports of Great Odesa for the countries of Africa, Asia and Europe. In general, during the year, the initiative made it possible to transport about 32.856 million tons of grain. The agreement brought more than 20 billion dollars to the budget of Ukraine and helped prevent world hunger.

Within the framework of the Agreement, it was possible to unblock the ports of Great Odesa for the merchant fleet. The agreement concerned the sea export of not only grain, but also mineral fertilizers. To monitor the implementation of the terms of the initiative, a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was created under the auspices of the UN.

And the very next day after the signing of the agreement, the terrorist country launched a missile attack on the port of Odessa. This once again showed the world the cynicism of the Russian Federation and its disregard for international agreements.

During the whole period of the Grain Initiative, Russia methodically disrupted its work. Thus, since the end of September 2022, representatives of the Russian Federation in the SCC sabotaged the inspection of ships with grain. Due to the actions of the Russians, agricultural products did not arrive to the buyer countries on time. At the same time, the unprecedented queue of ships that formed in the Bosphorus strait created risks of accidents and made it difficult to pass through the water gates.

At the end of October, Russia first announced its withdrawal from the Grain Agreement. At that time, the terrorist country cited the attacks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on ships of the Black Sea Fleet as the “reason” for its decision.

However, immediately after the “suspension” of the participation of the Russian Federation, the participants of the agreement noted that the work of the Grain Corridor improved: ships began to leave Ukrainian ports again, and the number of inspection groups of the SCC inspecting ships with agricultural products increased.

And in a few days, when the blackmail did not work, Russia decided to return to the Grain Agreement. It was then that it became clear: the final termination of the Black Sea Initiative is only a matter of time.

After returning to the agreement, Russia continued its terror: shelling Ukrainian terminals and grain elevators. At the same time, the Kremlin was inventing new demands and reasons to finally thwart the Zern initiative.

Since the beginning of 2023, Moscow has “played on the nerves” of the world community, agreeing to the extension of the agreement at the last moment before its expiration.

And so, in a year, Russia again announces its withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative. It seems that this time it is final. However, Ukraine has its own plan. With the political support of partner countries and the trust of insurers, the state is ready to continue exporting agricultural products to countries that need them. In particular, Ukraine, together with its allies, is actively developing the ports of the Danube cluster, as well as land routes through the “corridors of solidarity”.

It is also not necessary to exclude the possibility of exporting agricultural products through sea ports, even outside the Grain Agreement. We will remind you that the Black Sea Initiative functioned successfully even without the participation of Russia at the end of October 2022.

The occupiers understand the high probability of such a development. Therefore, immediately after leaving the Agreement, the terrorist country hastened to declare all vessels entering Ukrainian ports as “potential military targets”.

However, the Kremlin again forgot to take into account Ukraine’s reaction in its calculations. And she followed. In response to Russian threats, the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned that they would consider vessels bound for Russian Black Sea ports as those carrying military cargo.

In the end, the Russian authorities had to “cool down” a little. Now the terrorist country will no longer fire at the merchant fleet, but will only “check” the cargo of the ships.

Against the background of the rapid course of events, the participants of the Grain Agreement want to “excitedly” wait until the situation resolves itself. Thus, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that he “deeply regrets” Russia’s decision to end its participation in the Initiative. At the same time, the Turkish government still hopes for negotiations with Putin.

While Western allies throw up their hands, Ukraine proves that world security, including food security, depends only on our Armed Forces. Free and safe navigation in the Black Sea is possible only after the liberation of all occupied territories by Ukraine. And the sooner the Western partners understand this, the sooner the bloodiest war of the 21st century will end.

Danylo Popov